2024 Student Design Competition

ABOUT

This award is in honor of Clarellen Adams who was a champion of the interior design community. Her legacy to the profession was her dedication to helping student designers and the founding of The Showplace in 1971 with her husband Henry, later renamed the San Francisco Design Center. 

The 2024 Clarellen Adams Student Design Awards is sponsored by Riggs  Wolf Sub-Zero Cove.   

 

AWARD CATEGORIES

There are four awards categories: 

• Mood Board Charette Kitchen Design - Create a mood board consistent with the style of the home, and fulfills the clients’ wishes. Award: $150, and announcement on Northern California NKBA Chapter website and social media postings.

• Mood Board Charette Bath Design - Create a mood board consistent with the style of the home, and fulfills the clients’ wishes. Award: $150, and announcement on Northern California NKBA Chapter website and social media postings.

• Full Charette Kitchen Design Competition - Create a floor plan that addresses the design challenge, is consistent with the style of the home, fulfills the clients’ wishes, and aligns with NKBA’s Kitchen and Bath Planning Guidelines (Fourth Edition) and NKBA Graphic & Presentation Standards.  Award: $350 and announcement on Northern California NKBA Chapter website and social media postings.

• Full Charette Bath Design Competition - Create a floor plan that addresses the design challenge, is consistent with the style of the home, fulfills the clients’ wishes, and aligns with NKBA’s  Kitchen and Bath Planning Guidelines (Fourth Edition). Award: $350 and announcement on Northern California NKBA Chapter website and social media postings. 

Winners will be announced at the Annual Gala & Design Awards event on November 7, 2024.

 

WHO CAN ENTER:

Any student enrolled in an interior design program in the Northern California Chapter region who are also NKBA student members. Current graduates are eligible to enter the year they graduate. NKBA student membership is free, register here. 

 

ENTRY DETAILS:

Competition opens: June 1, 2024

Competition closes: September 20, 2024 at 6:00 PM Pacific

• All entries need to be made in CPJam.

• Work must be legible and all rules must be followed to qualify. 

• Upload all files (Mood Board, Floor plan, Elevations, and Perspectives) in JPGs format.

• Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

• Please DO NOT include any identifying information on any aspect of the project itself, including file naming.  This is to avoid bias during the judging phase. Including any identifying information on any aspect of the project will result in disqualification. CPJam will assign each entry a unique number.  Please include this number on your entry materials.

• You’re welcome to submit in all categories, however the designs need to be distinctively unique from each other.

• Consider specifying products that are design solutions. Be creative!

We're looking forward to seeing your great ideas! If you have any questions please contact mollyanne@macdesignstudio.com.

 

Mood Board Charette Kitchen & Bath Design Requirements:

1. Your mood board can be designed in whatever program you choose or can be manually drafted. Submissions need to be in a format that can be uploaded to CPJam.

 

Full Charette Kitchen & Bath Design Requirements:

1. Design Statement (200 - 400 words)

2. A descriptive list of your selections (e.g., cabinets, countertops, appliances, fixtures, floor and wall finishes, hardware, etc.):

   1. The use of Riggs Distributing products, Wolf Sub-Zero Cove, MUST be specified in your design, as well as, two more Nor Cal Chapter sponsors Must be specified.  (see SPONSOR tab) 
      

   2. Include: 

      1. A floor plan of your vision.

      2. One elevation of a wall with a major appliance (range, stovetop, or ovens). 

      3. A perspective or a mood board. 

      4. Dimensions MUST be included on floor plans and elevations. 

3. Designs must align with NKBA’s Kitchen & Bath Planning Guidelines (Fourth Edition). The Kitchen & Bathroom Planning Guidelines are linked under Contest Files tab. 

4. Upload all files (Mood Board, Floor Plan, Elevations, Perspectives) in JPGs format.

5. Student Kitchen & Bath designs can be designed in whatever computer-assisted design program you choose or can be manually drafted. Submissions need to be in a format that can be uploaded to CPJam.  

 

JUDGING:

We realize students come from a range of abilities and experience in interior design, and may be either new to the interior design program or about to graduate.  Entries will not be judged on drafting abilities, but will be judged on visual appeal, space planning, creativity, and the ability to “tell the story.”  Much of design is selling the client on the ideas presented.  Oftentimes, the designer won’t have the technical skills, but should have an element of salesmanship.  Sell us your idea! 

 

PROJECT: 

After blending families in 2018, Andre and Simone purchased their first home: a 1963 raised ranch in a suburban, New Jersey college town. With three bedrooms and 1.5 baths, the home provided just the right amount of space for the couple, Simone’s five year-old daughter, and Andre’s seven year-old son. The home fit the young family’s budget and its convenient proximity to New York City made it a commuter’s dream. Simone relies on rail transportation to get to midtown Manhattan where she works as a development officer for a modern art museum. Andre works as a guidance counselor and JV basketball coach for a local high school.  The family stays busy with weeknight functions that include music lessons, sporting events, and Simone’s work functions at the museum. Despite their busy schedules, family dinners are an important aspect of their day. Andre and Simone prepare freshly-cooked meals at least four times per week. On weekends, the family enjoys visits from their extended family and will frequently host a barbecue, birthday party, or Sunday brunch. The couple originally purchased the dwelling as their “starter home” with the intention of seeking a modern home after the children were in high school. However, they have come to appreciate the locale’s security and sense of community the neighborhood provides. They are ready to make this house their forever home with a few improvements.

The ranch features hallmarks of mid-century architecture, including an asymmetrical facade, low-pitched roof, and a floor-to-ceiling window aside the home’s split-level entryway. Previous owners updated the exterior and interior, masking the home’s vintage characteristics. Most of the rooms feature a dusty, blue paint scheme and golden, pecan hardwood floors. The neutral palette has made decorating the home simple, as the couple easily integrated modern furnishings amidst the current scheme.

Despite the home’s upkeep and past upgrades, the family’s kitchen and main (full) bathroom are in desperate need of a renovation. The kitchen is small and does not utilize the available space. Counter space is limited, which makes it difficult for the couple to prepare meals together. Current cooking appliances include a wall oven and a microwave mounted over the electric cooktop. There is a small dining table in the corner of the kitchen that barely fits the family of four. 

The family gathers in the kitchen for breakfast every morning and for quick, casual meals throughout the week. They would appreciate a kitchen island to help increase their workspace, but would also like to have versatility for seating four around the island. The couple would like to move the microwave to install a hood over the cooking surface. They are also interested in additional space-saving features to maximize storage. Most of the renovations date back to the 90’s and do not mimic Andre and Simone’s style preference. They wish to honor the homes architecture and bring it back to it's historic style while elevating it with current design elements.

The main bathroom dates back to 1963, featuring the original tile floor, double sink vanity and combined bathtub and shower. This high traffic area needs to accommodate the entire family including both children, now ages 10 and 12. The family is requesting a complete remodel of this shared space including a large, soaking tub, comforable and flexible shower function.

When it comes to style, Andre and Simone feel ready to take more risks. Having lived in their home for five years, they have personal design ideas for both the kitchen and full bathroom. They would like to embrace the home’s history and restore back to statement colors reminiscent of the 1960s. Simone would also like to incorporate elements inspired by modern art in the kitchen and bath concepts.

Additional Property Information

• The wall between the dining room and kitchen is load bearing and cannot be completely removed and would require proper engineering to alter the location and size of the opening.
• The structural post at the corner of the two wall near the living & Dining rooms must remain.
• Room entrances may be moved or altered.
• All windows can be moved or altered.
• No structural changes to vaulted celing allowed
• The closet or portion of may be incorporated into the new design but must be shown to where it will be relocated.
• Work within the footprint of the existing floor plan. Download floor plan from Downloadable Files section.
• Exterior walls are 6 1/2" thick, interior walls are 4 1/2" thick
• Plumbing can be added or moved
• Additional applicances may be used such as ovens, warming drawers and wine/beverage refrigerators
• Cabinet, Applicance, & Fixture placement at designer's discretion considering NKBA Design Guidelines.

PROJECT FLOOR PLAN:

The floor plan for this project is shown in downloadable files.

REQUIRED APPLIANCES: Wolf Sub-Zero & Cove

         Refrigerator

         Dishwasher 

         Induction Cooktop or Range 

         Vent Hood

         Microwave 

 

NOTES:

• No structural changes to vaulted ceiling allowed

• Work within the footprint of the existing floor plan. Download floor plan from Contest Files tab.

• Exterior walls are 6 ½” thick, interior walls are 4 ½” thick

• Windows and doors can be added or moved 

• Plumbing can be added or moved 

• Additional appliances may be used such as ovens, warming drawers and wine/beverage refrigerators

• Cabinet and Appliance placement at designer’s discretion

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

1. Is there a budget?

   • No.

2. Is the mood board created by using a picture of real materials put together or can it be done digitally with examples of materials found over the internet?

   • The mood board can be ANY format as stated in the requirements. It can be a real material board that is photographed or materials found on the internet as long as you can submit it digitally in CPJam.

3. Is an elevation required for the Student Kitchen & Bath Design?

   • Yes. At least one elevation with a major appliance is required.

4. Does the Student Kitchen & Bath Design require a mood board?

   • No. Entries require either a mood board or perspective drawing.